SB 552: LIVESTOCK OPERATION INTERFERENCE ACT

An Act Relating To Agriculture; Enacting The Livestock Operation Interference Act; Providing Penalties

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HIGH SB 552
LIVESTOCK OPERATION INTERFERENCE ACT

Legislative URL:

SB 552 on nmlegis.gov

Emergency Clause:

No

Germane:

N/A

Location:

- OTHER -

Action:

[14] SCONC/SJC-SCONC API.

Issue(s):

Animals & Wildlife

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

Cliff Pirtle

Related Documents

Downloads:

Introduced
Fiscal Impact Report

Summary

This piece of legislation enacts the Livestock Operation Interference Act, which sets forth the crime of  “livestock operation interference.” A person violates the Act when a person:

• knowingly or intentionally records an image of, or sound from, a livestock operation by leaving a recording device on the livestock operation without consent from the owner of the operation; or,
• obtains access to a livestock operation under false pretenses; or,
• applies for employment at a livestock operation with the intent to record such an image sound; or,
• knows when taking a job at the operation that the owner prohibits employees from recording such images or sounds but does so anyway; or
• makes such a recording knowingly or intentionally without consent committing criminal trespass.

A person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill’s definition of “livestock” includes “exotic animals in captivity.”

A concern regarding this bill might be that it could chill efforts by individuals to bring instance of the mistreatment of animals, harm to the land to the air or water at a livestock operation, or potential dangers to the public health and safety from food sources to the attention of the appropriate enforcement agencies or to the public eye.

Date of Summary:  2/15/2013